Chapter Text
By the time the delegation from Sumeru arrive for their meeting, Jean, Lisa, and Kaeya have put together a modified and much-abbreviated version of the reports from Albedo and Eula to hand over to the scholars. They'll appreciate a paper copy, Lisa assures them, and it doesn't take Jean too long to write it out. It also gives her something to work from as she presents the results.
"Magus Kloysen is presumed deceased," Jean tells Magister Pari and Magister Goha, sitting across the table from her and Lisa. Kaeya is leaning against the wall behind her, arms crossed. "Captain Lawrence and her scouts weren't able to find enough remains to verify it without a shadow of a doubt, but they did find remains. Including his Vision, which we will return to you."
Lisa hands the padded box across the table to Magister Ghoa, who accepts it and lifts the lid slightly to glance inside. He nods. "That is certainly Vidal's Vision. What of the... other device?"
"That was also recovered," Jean tells them. "However, given that it was used as a weapon against the Knights of Favonius, and is not so personal an artifact as a Vision, the Ordo intends to retain possession of it. We have encountered such weapons before, and our librarian-" she gestures at Lisa, making a point of who's in charge "-has begun a study of their workings, with the assistance of the Ordo's alchemists. She is, after all, a master scholar of elemental workings."
Magister Pari, who had already agreed that Magister Goha can't be given the Delusion, clears her throat. "Lisa is, of course, the best student the Academia has had in that area for many years. I am sure that her analysis would be quite complete. May we ask, though, if my division of the Academia could be allowed to view her research? It's a matter of considerable interest to us, as well."
"Lisa?" They've discussed this already, but Jean wants to emphasize Lisa's authority in this area. If things go as they're hoping, she'll have to stay in control to keep anything leaking out that might endanger Mondstadt. "Are you willing to share your findings?"
"Within limits," Lisa answers, smiling at the magisters. "I no longer belong to the Academia, so I'm under no obligations. But if the Academia is interested in this study, then it would make the research go much more quickly if they were willing to provide a few assistants. Seconded to the Knights of Favonius, of course. And willing to assist the Knights with other projects as needed. Continued ley line mapping, for example."
"And," Jean adds, "presuming that Master Goha is no longer intending to work with certain parties who would have complicated that research."
The magisters look at each other for a moment. Then Magister Goha turns back to them, with something like respect in his eyes. "Given recent events, it's probably wisest to cut those ties.... I am sure that between us, Magister Pari and I can find a few scholars trained in useful areas, in exchange for access to your results."
"Fully trained ones, not students," Lisa adds. "It would be too tiresome to have to train my own assistants, and it would slow down the research considerably."
"Full scholars, if not senior scholars," Magister Pari says, nodding. "I would volunteer myself, but then I would have to give up my role on the academy board."
"Oh, no, I wouldn't expect any magisters to leave their positions. Fully qualified researchers will do excellently, darlings."
"It seems to me we have an agreement," Jean says, smiling at both of the Magisters. "I look forward to welcoming your scholars to Mondstadt. Do you have any other questions about the report?"
"Not at the moment, though I'll have to read over it in full later," Magister Pari says. "I'll let you know by this evening if I have any questions. My compliments to your Church people, by the way. They've made us very welcome."
"I almost regret that we're leaving tomorrow," Magister Goha adds. "Though I suppose they're glad we aren't putting them out any longer. And they've taken very good care of us. Sister Pegg could teach the Hydro users in Sumeru a thing or two about healing."
"I'll pass that on to them," Jean says, her smile growing more genuine. "I'm sure they'll be pleased. Thank you for your time, Magisters. We look forward to welcoming your scholars when they arrive."
"And we'll make sure to send you our best," Magister Pari says, with a conspiratorial wink. "It wouldn't hurt to keep better abreast of the developments in other nations. Particularly when they have scholars like Lisa in their ranks."
As the magisters rise and head out the door, Jean turns to Lisa. She's wearing a satisfied smile, the one that makes her look almost feline.
"That seemed to go well."
"Very well," Lisa says, turning that smile on her with such warmth that Jean's heart seems to skip a beat. "Magister Pari was all but offering us an alliance, there. What happened yesterday shook them both up."
"I presume that's the best we're going to get from Sumeru for now, with so many connections between the Fatui and their major scholars," Kaeya says, pushing away from the wall. "Maybe next year we can invite another delegation and see if we can't hammer something more formal out. But a couple of scholars who can pass information through back channels is better than nothing at all."
"Certainly better than I expected when they first arrived," Lisa agrees. She reaches out to rest her hand on Jean's forearm, little tickles of static running between them. "It's disappointing that it took the deception it did for them to take Jean and the Knights seriously, but I'm not surprised. The values of the Academia are so terribly insular."
"All's well that ends well, or so I've heard," Kaeya says, digging through the largest drawer of Jean's desk. He comes back with three glasses and a bottle, and sets the glasses out in front of them, uncorking the bottle and pouring with a bit of a flourish. Sitting back down, he raises his glass as if in a toast. "To useful deceptions."
"And fortunate impulses," Lisa puts in, smiling at Jean.
Feeling herself flush, Jean smiles back. "And admirable courage."
They clink their glasses together, then drink the watered wine, fizzy and weak and sweet. Jean can hardly tell the difference between the bubbles in her stomach and the bubble in her chest, still expanding, a sweet, warm burst of joy that nearly seems to lift her off her feet.
***
When they meet for tea later, it's at one of the benches along the city wall near the Ordo headquarters, far enough from regular thoroughfares to be within sight of the building and yet still private. Lisa crosses her legs and balances her saucer elegantly on her knee. Jean simply sets hers on the bench beside her. Lisa is tucked up next to her, and she doesn't trust herself to keep it steady.
"I do have a question," Jean says, once they've both made decent inroads on the little sugar cookies Lisa had brought along. "Though one you're free to refuse me an answer to. What was it you were researching with Magus Kloysen?"
"Concentrations of elemental power," Lisa says. "And the artificial creation of them. It was the research that my Vision came to me to assist, in fact. But the notion of concentrating elemental energies at will, without requiring the assistance of the gods... surely you can guess who Vidal was selling that to, and why."
It feels like a shadow has fallen over them, despite the warm afternoon sun. Jean shivers a little at the expression on Lisa's face, set and grim. "The Fatui," she says, very quietly. "And... Delusions."
"Yes," Lisa says, her mouth tight and unhappy, the sparkle gone. "All I knew at the time was that they were Magister Goha's mysterious associates, but that mystery was enough. If I couldn't be sure who they were and what they were using it for, I couldn't allow them to have that knowledge. And then once we started to learn more about the Fatui, I suspected... though my work came too late to be the base of the Delusions, even if they were working along the same lines. Master Diluc's tale about the Evil Eye was a great relief. What they did get of my notes couldn't have been developed nearly that fast."
Jean wants desperately to banish that dull look from Lisa's eyes. She puts an arm around her shoulder and squeezes tight. "You did the right thing, even if the Academia thought otherwise. I'm sorry to have brought up something so troublesome to you."
"I wanted to tell you. But if you feel badly, then it's only fair that you answer a question for me, too," Lisa says, relaxing into Jean's arm. "When did you first fall for me, my dear? Surely you have an idea."
"I'm afraid I don't," Jean has to admit. She turns to stare down into her half-empty teacup, thinking through the weeks and months behind them. "I only know that it predated all of this. Our teas together, I suppose, and those long days working out various arrangements for the library, and slowly, over time... Kaeya tells me I was pining for the past year, and it wouldn't be the first time he's noticed before I have. But I'm aware of the last several months, at least. Agreeing to our deception was an indulgence. A selfish one, since you had no idea."
"No less selfish than I was being, my dear." Lisa presses a little more firmly against her, resting a hand on Jean's thigh. Jean, mouth suddenly dry, tries not to jump. She sets her teacup down just in case. "The very first time I asked you to join me for tea, I meant it to be a date. I liked the idea of you finally treating something we did together as a romantic occasion too well to turn it down."
"The first time-" Jean can't help but do the mental math. "That was almost two years ago!"
"It was," Lisa says, her voice a purr. "So that's two years of dates to make up for, don't you think?"
Her voice is much closer than Jean had expected, and she turns her head to see Lisa right there, smiling at her. Those soft lips are too close for Jean not to lean in and brush her own against them, sending sparks through her to gather in her belly that have very little to do with the initial burst of static when they meet. Lisa kisses back deeply, fiercely, as if she's trying to pour those whole two years of feeling into this one kiss.
"I think," Jean gasps, when they finally break apart for air, "that I'd like to make up for those as soon as possible. Can we start with dinner at Good Hunter tonight, or should I find something different from what we've been doing?"
Lisa leans her head on Jean's shoulder. "Good Hunter would be lovely, my dear. So long as you're free to walk me home afterward. I don't want to go another two years only going on dates, after all."
Jean feels her face heat as she realizes what Lisa is implying. "No, I- I would be happy to walk you home. Honored."
She can feel Lisa's smile as she shifts against Jean's shoulder. Picking up her teacup, Jean takes a sip of her tea. For a moment she simply enjoys it, the warm sweet mint blend Lisa has made for them and the soft warmth of Lisa up against her. Then she sets her cup back down and reaches out to put her hand over the one Lisa still has curled around her knee.
As their fingers twine together, she breathes in deep, appreciating the scent of cecelia flowers and windwheel asters on the breeze. However they've come to this point, and however long it took, she can only be glad that they're here at last, with no facade left between them.